Unemployment rate down slightly in Milam

Texas rate highest its been since mid-1980s oil bust

JULY UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURES Unemployment numbers across the state are the highest since 1987 and Milam County remains in double figures in jobless percentage, according to reports released Friday by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC).

The unemployment rate in Milam County did drop one-tenth of a point for the month, but is up four-tenths compared to the same time in 2010, where 10.3 percent of the county’s residents were unemployed.

Milam’s June rate was based on a labor force of 10,978 with 9,806 working and 1,172 unemployed.

The labor force actually increased 93 in Milam County compared to last month.

The labor force in the county has declined 555 people compared to July 2010. April and May unemployment numbers in the county were below the 10 percent margin. Prior to that the rate had been above the 10 percent margin since January 2009.

April’s jobless rate of 9.6 was the lowest for Milam County since December 2008. At that time it was the highest since the mid-1980s.

The county’s unemployment rate has been in double figures 28 of the last 31 months.

STATEWIDE—Texas total nonfarm employment increased by 29,300 jobs in July. It was the 10th consecutive month that Texas experienced positive job growth.

Texas’ seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 8.4 percent in July, up slightly from 8.2 percent in June, and remains a below the nationwide unemployment rate of 9.1 percent. Both were slightly up for the month.

The 8.4 percent ties the highest for Texas since 1987, during the state’s mid-1980s oil bust.

The Midland Metropolitan Statistical Area had the lowest July unemployment rate in the state at 5.1 percent. The Amarillo MSA came in second at 6.2 percent, and the Odessa MSA third at 6.8 percent (not seasonally adjusted).